Pneumatic shoe-press



J. STUART. PNEUMAIIC SHOE PRESQ APPLICATION FILED MAR.27, I919.

Patented Apr. 20, 1920.

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. STUART.

PNEUMATIC SHOE PRESS. APPLICAHON FILED MAR. 27,' 19. 9.

4 SHEETSSHEET 2- Patented Apr. 20, 1920.

AIR INL T VALVE I is "aw J. STUART. PNEUMATIC SHOE PRESS. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 27, I919.

Patented Apr. 20, 1920 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3- 'hii manag- C. J. STUART. PNEUMATIC SHOE PRESS. APPLICATION FILED MAR.27.19!9.

Patented Apr. 20,1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

@51 M1 Gimme UNITED PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES J. STUART, or nnwnevnn, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR To L. CANDEE &

' COMPANY, VA CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

TNE MATio Specification of Application filed. March 27,

To all whom it may concern:

' is a specification.

1 overthe lower margins of the upper and Myinvention relates to apparatus for applying pressure to the exterior of rubber shoes and the like, while the latter are upon the lasts and preliminary to vulcanization.

Heretofore in the manufacture of rubber footwear various parts applied to the last have been conformed to the shape of the last and intimately connected by successive hand rolling operations, or by means of fluid pressure after all of the parts have-i The present beenassembled upon the last. invention relates to the latter method and particularly to an apparatus capable ofii so acting upon the sole,,that in the assem- SHOE-PRESS.

L r 'l n Patented Apr. 20, 1920.

1919. Serial No. 285,481.

cover member 2, thecover members of the two boxes being, in this instance, formed integrally and being hinged to the frame plate D by means of aishaft 3 passing through an aperture 4 irfa' bracket member 5 extending upwardly from the plate D, and through an apertured boss 6 projecting rearwardly from each of the two cover members 2. An arm 7 projects from boss 6. and carries an adjustable weight 8, tocounterbalanc'e the weight of the cover members and to swing said members upwardly when permitted by the operation of parts later to be described.

Disposed within the lower member 1 of each pressure box is a flexible diaphragm 9 shaped'to conform with the upper portion-of a last, its margins being clamped sfbetween the upper flanged wallof the said box member 1 and a flanged clampingring 10. The lower wall of the diaphragm 9 is apertured to receive a bushing 11,. a.

bly of the parts of the shoe or boot thfs stem '12 being threaded within said bushsole may be laid in posltion without roll ing,'to be shaped and securedto' the upper by fluid pressure preliminary to'vulcanization, the margins of the sole being folded pressed firmly in contact therewith so that firm adhesion is secured by the tacklness of these unvulcanized members; and also the apparatus possesses certain features designed to overcome defects in the existing .machines of this class, as will be hereinafter fully described.

The apparatus-{will be understood by-referenceto the accompanying drawings in which:'

Figure 1 is a, front elevation, partly in section, of. the apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly insection of the apparatus.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of. the apparatus.

Fig. 4t is'a detail sectional view on the line 4c-l, Fig. 3, enlarged.

' The apparatus consists ofa frame, com? prising the base member A and the parallelf ing' so that when it is rotated by means of \handle 14, the stem may be moved upwardly oikvice versa to adjust the position of a block 15 upon which the last 16 rests, the

block being provided with pins 17 to fit .within recesses formed within the last. At its lower end, the bushing 11 is cored out 'to receive a packing 18 encircling the stem and compressed by means of a threaded plug 19. The bushing 11 projects below the lower box member and is threaded at its exterior to receive a nut 20 so that the diaphragm at the margins of the aperture formed at the base thereof may be securely clamped between the inner wall of the lower box member and a flange 21 on the bushing. It will be seen that by raising or lowering the block 15 through the rotation of handle 14 the last 16. may be raised and lowered within the pressure box. In practice the last shou1d, be so disposed-within the pressure box that its toe portion be sup sported by a rest 22. 5 Each upper diaphragm 9 is clamped in vertical frame members B,'the latter bet frposition within its appropriate cover member 2 by means of a removable flange ring ing rigidly held in position by means ofl the cross plate 0-. and by other suitable means such as-the cross plate D at the rear of the machine. .Mounted upon the plates C and D at the top of the machine are two pressure boxes, each box consisting of a. lower member 1 and an upper or 2*, the said flange ring being secured in position by means of a series of stud screws 23.

By reference to Figs. 1 and 3 it will be seen that the air supply passes through a pipe 24c-and thence to. a valve 25, thence through a pipe 26 communicating with two branch pipes 27, each branch pipe commu-' nicating through a duct 28 with a lower pressure box member 1 below the diaphragm 9. The said valve also controls the passage ofthe air to a pipe 29 in communication with an axial bore 30 formed in the pivot shaft 3 for the upper mem-' The two upper.

with the axial S upon which is mounted cam 32 which' acts through certain intermediaries toopen valve 25 for the admission of air under pressure to the diaphragms. Cam 32 en gages a roller 33 carried by a lever 34 fulcrumed at 35 upon one of the side plates the roller 33 being maintained in engagement with the cam 32 by means of -carried by the shaft a coiled spring 36. The immediate actuacting memberfor valve 25 is a lever 37 connected with the valve stem25 and fulcrumed at 38, Fig. 2. Lever 37 is normally held in closed position by means of a coiled spring 39,-and it is actuated by means of a link 40 pivoted to lever 37 by means of pivoted stud 41, and at its free end carrying a roller 42 adapted to be engaged by a plate 43 carried by lever 34. Thus when lever 34 is rocked by its operating cam 32, plate 43 is moved to the left from its position shown in Fig. 2, carrying with it link 40, and actuating lever 37 to move valve stem 25 to open position, thereby permitting passage of air under pressure to the diaphragms by means of the pipes and ducts above described.

The apparatus is so arranged however that valve 25 may not be opened to admit .air to the diaphragms unless the cover plate '2is down in closed position.

prevent any rupture of the diaphragms by their inflation at the time This -is to the cover plate is open. vTo this end the cover plate is provided with transversely extending ribs 44, each rib being engaged, when the cover plate is.moved to closed position, by a latch 45 pivoted at 46 upon the frameof the machine. The latch members 45 are 'moved toward and from latching position by means of-toggle links 47 connectedat 48 to a link 49, connected in turn to an arm 50 on a shaft 51 actuated by a lever 51. Lever 51 is loosely mounted upon the operating shaft 51 extending crosswise of the machine, the lever acting upon the shaft through pins a and passing through apertures in the hub of the lever, said aper- .tures being of somewhat greater width than the diameter of the pins, so that the lever 51 may have a slight movement independ- 31, which ducts of the latching members 45 to ,ative position, as shown in Fig. 2, the arm will ently of the arm 50 and its connected latching parts and vice versa, to avoid any harsh action of the parts in the latching similar to those just described, the latch ing members acting upon'the ribs 44 on the' said opposite side of the machine. Shaft 51 carries an arm 55 which is connected by link 56 to the link 40 forming part of the operating mechanism for main air 'valve 25. The lever 51 moves upwardly in its action upon shaft 51 to move the latches 45 into closed position. Prior to the movement their oper- 40will be in such position as to hold, its roller 42 below plate 43 carried by the operating lever 34 for the main air-valve 25.

In-the movement of shaft 51 in itsaction upon arm 50 and link 49 to move the latching members into final position, arm 55 gradually move upward, and, through link 56, will raise arm 40 so that roller 42 will approach plate 43; but the said roller will not be brought into register with said plate until the latches 45 are moved over ribs 44, so that the operating mechanism for the main air valve is ineffective until the cover platehas been locked into closed position. The latching members above described are operatedimmediately following the closing of the cover-plate, the said closing operation being. effected by apparatus now to be describe Assuming that cover member 2 is in open.

position, the arm 7 and weight 8, Fig. 2, will be in their lower position, and roller stud 60 on lever 57 will be in register with the low point of the operating cam 61. It is at this time that the lasts, with their assembled shoe parts, are placed in position within the lasting boxes. The operator will then start the machine in operation, by first moving lever 62 rearwardly from its position in Fig. 1 thereby moving trip arm 63 out of register with a pin 64 carried by sleeve 65 keyed to cam shaft S. said trip arm through link 66, arm 67 and shaft 68, the latter carrying the trip arm. This movement of the trip-arm will permit the movement of sleeve 65 to the position shown in Fig. 1, so that a rib 65 carried by said sleeve may enter a socket formed in the 'hub 69 of a constantly rotating gear wheel vdriven by the instrumentality of a pinion 71 carried by main drive shaft 72, the latter Lever 62 acts upon thecam 61- will act upon cover-operating lever I 57 through roller 60 to lift link 58 and thereby swing the cover member 2 into closed position; whereupon cam 53 will act upon latch-operating lever 51, through roller 52, to lift link 49, thereby straightening the toggle 47, and operating the latch members 4:5 to lock the said cover member in closed position. Simultaneously with the latter operation, arm 55 on shaft 51 will be raised and roller 42 on arm 40 will be brought into register with the plated? on lever 34. Thereupon cam 32 will act upon the main air valve operating lever 34, through roller 33, to move arm 40 to the left from its position in Fig. 2, this action opening main air valve 25 by the movement of lever 37 and valve stem 25". Air under pressure will thereupon pass through the pipes and ducts hereinbefore described to the diaphragms within each pressure box. In the continued rotation of the'cam shaft S its cam 73 will act upon an exhaust valve operating lever 74:, through a roller 75, Fig. 2, lever 74 being connected to a second lever d by meansof link 76, the latter lever being fulcrumed at 77 upon'a bracket air exhaust valve 80 and having a proj ection 7 8 in register with the valve stem 79 ofthe exhaust valve 80 which communicates, through pipes 26 and 29, with the upper and lower members of the pressure box, the operation of this exhaust valve permitting the passage of the air in the pressure box through an exhaust pipe 81. Preliminary to the opening of the exhaust valve 80, roller 33 on lever 34i passes to a low point on cam 32 and permits spring 36 to close the main air valve 25. Succeeding the operation of the air exhaust mechanism, roller 52 moves to a low point on cam 53 and latch-operating lever 51 moves downwardly, thereby operating the toggle 47 to move the latch members to open position; this operation being followed by the movement of roller 60 into the low point, of cam 61, weight 8 being permitted to act upon arm 7 to raise the cover member 2. At the time the cover member is raised, as just'described, pin 6 1 on the sleeve 65 keyed to the cam shaft S meets the cam face of trip arm 63, which arm,in the continued rotation of. the cam shaft moves the sleeve outwardly until rib 65- on the sleeve withdraws from the-socket formed in the hub ofconstantly rotating gear 7 and the machine comes to a stop.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, exhaust pipe 81 is connected with exhaust mechanism comprising a suction fan T driven from a' motor 82. Motor 82- is also utilized in the saidembodiment to drive the machine, the motor shaft 83 being provided witha pltlley 81 connected by means of belt 85 with a second pulley 86 on a shaft 87. The shaft 83 is provided with a worm 88, in mesh with a worm wheel 89 'on the main drive shaft 72.

It is desirable thatJLhe air intermediate the diaphragms and the last be permitted to escape. To this end the last holder 15 is prbvided with ducts b, b in communication with a duct 0 extending axially of the ad-. j usting stem 12 for the last holder.

The operation of the diaphragms is such that the upper diaphragm folds the margins of the sole down over the lower marginsOf the upper in theabsence of any undue resistance. to such action by the upward movement of the lower diaphragm. To. this end the initial pressure back of the upper diaphragm is greater than the initial pressure back of the lower diaphragm. This effect is accomplished by means of-a check valve 90, Fig. 3, in pipe 26 immediately in advance of the branches 2? leading to the lower diaphragms, this check valve being of the usual construction, and permitting a retarded flow of air to the lower diaphragms relatively to rangement of the various members of the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

- 1. In-an apparatus of the kind described, a pressure box, and means for applying pressure to the parts of an unvulcanized shoe held within said box, comprising op- .posed diaphragms, and means for applying pressure to said diaphragms and for subjecting one diaphragm to an initial pressure greater than the initial pressure to which the second diaphragm is subjected, for the purpose set forth.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, two opposed diaphragms and means for applying fluid pressure to said diaphragms and to one of the diaphragms at an initial pressure greater than the initial pressure applied to the second diaphragm.

3. In apparatus of the character described, a pressure box comprising a last supporting member and a removable closure member, a diaphragm carried by each of the said members, and means for applying fluid pressure back ofeach diaphragm in such manner that one diaphragm may act upon the sole of an unvulcanized shoe,.held

.a connection adapted to be moved into and means for applying pressure to saiddiaphragms in such manner that the first named diaphragm may fold the margms of the sole about the lower margins of the upper by a pressure greater than that to Which the second diaphragm is subjected during said folding operation.

5. In apparatus of the character described, a pressure box, automatically acting means forapplying fluid pressure to the said box'including a valve, a valveactuating device having a valve connection movable into and out of operative position, a closure for the box, locking means for said closure, and means automatically acting upon the operation of said locking means to move said valve connection into position to enable the valve actuating device, by a subsequent movement, to open the valve.

6. In apparatus of the character. described, a pressure box, a closure for said pressure box, means for admitting fluid under pressure to said box including a movable member, and automatically 'acting means for holding the said movable mem ber out of operative position While the 010- sure is in open position and for restoring the said movable member to operative position upon the movement of the closure to closed position; j p 7. In apparatus of the character described, a pressure box, a closure for the pressure box, a'locking device for said closure, means acting automatically to admit fluid under pressure to said box including and out of operative position, and a device acting automatically to hold said connection out of operative position While the said closure is open.

8. In an apparatus of the character described, a pressure box, a pivotally mounted closure for said box, a locking device for said closure and operating means therefor,

has been:-moved into 9. In apparatus of the character dea valve for admitting fluid under pressure to said box, actuatmg means for said valve including a connectlon movable into and out of operative position, and a member carried by said locking member and adapted to hold the said connection out of operative position until the said locking device operative position.

scribed, a pressure box, a pivoted'closure for said box, means for admitting fluid pressure to said box including a valve, 2.

valve-operating lever, a link intermediate the valve operating lever and the valve, a lever and connections for operating the locking device, and a connection betvveenthe last recited lever and the link for moving the.latter,into operative register With the valve operating lever.

10. In apparatus of the character described, a frame, apressure box and a closure therefor supported by said frame, a valve for admitting fluid under pressure to said box, a fluid exhaust valve, a'cam shaft journal ed in said frame, tension devices for normally maintaining the said valves in closed position, operative connections intermediate the cam shaft, the closure and the valves for automatically and succeserated from said cam shaft for moving the closure into open position subsequent to the operation of the exhaust valve.

11. In apparatus of the character de scribed, a pressure box, a closure for the said box, a cam shaft, means for admitting fluid under pressure to said box comprising a valve, tension means for normally maintaining the valve in closed position, means for automatically moving the closure to closed and open positions, and means for automatically opening the valve upon the movement of the closure to closed position, including a lever acting in opposition to said tension device and operated from said cam shaft. y

12. In apparatus of the character described, a pressure box comprising a last supporting member and a closure member, and a diaphragm carried by each member, a last support, means for adjusting the position of the last support including a stem movable relatively to the Wall of the said last supporting member and projecting through the diaphragm carried by said member, and means for exhausting the air intermediate the said diaphragms including an air duct formed in the said stem.

13. In apparatus of the character described, an air box comprising a last supporting member, and a cover member a diaphragm carried by each member, and last adjusting means including a device movable relatively to the Wall ofthe said last supporting member and projecting through the diaphragm carried by said member, whereby a last may be adjusted Within the pressure box from a point exterior to the latter.

said toggle to move the hook membersover the closure when the latter is moved into closed position.

15. In apparatus of the character described, a pressure box, means for admitting fluid under pressure to said box, fluid exhaust means for said box, a cam shaft, means for locking said closure in position including oppositely disposed lugs on the closure, op-

positely disposed pivoted hook members adapted to engage the said lugs, a toggle directly connected to said hook members, and means for automatically operating the said toggle when the closure is moved in closed position comprising a lever operated from said cam shaft.

16. In an apparatus of the character de scribed, a pressure box comprising a last member, a closure member, and a diaphragm carried by the closure member, and means for conducting fluid under pressure back of the said' diaphragm including a shaft upon which the closure member is pivoted, said shaft being provided with a duct communicating with the interior of said closure member.

17. In an apparatus of the character de scribed, a pressure box comprising a last supporting member, a closure member, and a diaphragm carried by each of said memhere, and means for conducting fluid under pressure back of the sald diaphragms 1ncludlng a shaft upon which said closure member is pivoted, said shaft being provided with a duct communicating with the interior of said closure member.

18. In apparatus of the character de-' scribed, a pair of pressure boxes, each comprising a last supporting member and a closure member, a diaphragm carried by the last supporting member and the closure member of each box, and means for applying fluid under pressure back of each diaphragm including a shaft forming a device upon which the closure members in conjunction may pivotally move, a duct formed in said shaft, and fluid passageways formed in each closure member and communicating with said duct.

19. In apparatus of the character described, a pressure box .comprising two members and a diaphragm carried by each member, means for admitting fluid under pressure to the pressure box and back of each diaphragm, and a suction device for exhausting the fluid from said pressure box.

Signed at New York, county of New York, State of New York, this 19th day of March, 1919.

CHARLES J. STUART. 

